Shell Programming and Scripting

A tutorial on complex data structures:

perldsc - perldoc.perl.org

Code:

   $names{"$first,$last"}{count}++;

This is indeed much simpler looking. I will take a stab at describing this line: This hash idiom associates each $first,$last element with it's count.

Code:

 $names{"$first,$last"}{name} = "$first $mi $last $state",

This hash idiom associates the full record ($first $mi $last $state) with each $first,$last instance in hash %names.

If my language is not correct in this description, then my thinking is also incorrect. I am going to reread this article on hashes by Simon Cozens:
perl.com: Hash Crash Course and try to get a fuller understanding.

Thanks.